We’re proud to share that It Was Never Supposed To Be by Ben Kline has won the 2026 Lambda Literary Award in Gay Poetry!
The award was presented at the 38th Annual Lambda Literary Awards on June 12, 2026, in New York City. This was Kline’s first Lambda Literary Award nomination and first Lammy win. It Was Never Supposed To Be was selected from a shortlist that included:
- Bachelor by Gustavo Hernandez (FlowerSong Press)
- boy maybe: poems by W. J. Lofton (Beacon Press)
- Kitchen Hymns by Pádraig Ó Tuama (Copper Canyon Press)
- Seabeast by Rajiv Mohabir (Four Way Books)
IWNSTB traces the arc of contemporary gay life from the AIDS crisis through the era of marriage equality, exploring themes of love, loss, survival, and belonging. During his acceptance speech, Kline spoke about the inspiration behind the book, reflecting on the loss of his uncle and his partner to AIDS in 1992 and the journey toward a future they never imagined seeing.
Join us in congratulating Ben!
